grtmtnchic

I would argue that many women are coerced into prostitution and legalization will not change this fact - and not even improve the situation (it could make it worse). That's a possibility, but not one that's equally likely under all regulatory regimes. I think you'd have to consult the statistical record to make a convincing argument one way or another. I think it all comes down to: 1)Whether or not there's a moral case for prohibiting things that mentally competent adults do to themselves in private, or that they choose to do to one another in private. 2)Whether or not you think it's likely that the coercive apparatus devised to limit one particular variety of behavior that fits the description above will remain confined to the said activities. Personally, someone using heroin concerns me far less than the state's enforcement apparatus seizing their assets because they choose to consume a substance that others don't think is very good for them. You have SO got to be an attorney, aren't you?!

I strongly remember as a young girl wanting to be BOTH President of the USA AND Miss America when I grew up. I guess I recognized at an early age that it was good to have beauty and power. I gave up that ambition when I realized neither career really had much of either...kinda like being a whore!

LMFAO!!!!! no they say i want to marry a rich guy. Yikes! Same thing, huh?!

LMFAO!!!!!

Well.....there is a whole other side to the prohibition story unrelated to this thread, but what the heck: It had to do with ethanol production and Ford's (successful) attempt to monopolize the automobile industry at the time by completely obliterating the competition (that created an auto to run on ethanol). Ban alcohol = ban ethanol = crush the competition and thus the predominant automobile was Ford's that ran on gasoline.

Seems you know quite a lot - well put.

You mean if I was a prostitute, the wife, or a regular citizen of this society? If I was the wife and I didn't care...crap, I'd wonder what the hell was wrong with me. If I was a prosititue...crap, I'd wonder what the hell was wrong with me! If I was a regular citizen who didn't mind married men sleeping with prostitutes...crap, I'd want to be a part of another society. Maybe these are just my personal hang-ups, but, yeah, I guess you could say I just have a problem with prostitution! Ha!

Jeez, this site just sucks you in, doesn't it. I gotta go do some work!

In places where it's legal and no minors are involved and the prostitutes are not being coerced, I could be inclined to see it more as a business transaction where no parties are harmed, though that's a lot of "if's". I actually kind of admire the cajones of women like Heidi Fleiss for creating such a successful business out of prostitution, but it still comes back to mostly married men who are hiring prostitutes. Is that right?

Very interesting, Rob. And I agree. I don't believe in marriage - it's a faulty institution with unrealistic expectations - and people get married for mostly the wrong reasons. Marriage was begun as a way for the church to assert reproductive control. There's about 1 in 10 marriages of people I know that make me want to ever be married. The other 9 in 10 make me SOOOOO happy to be single. And I've never had a guy NOT cheat on me! Probably why we both have such strong opinions here.

phew!

I dunno. He is a married man, having sex with prostitutes. The prostitutes are women, having sex with married men. Different sides of the same coin, if you ask me. Of course, only the men offend you, right? I don't buy this bullshit "men are scum and women aren't" argument. Women are just as fucked up as men, sexually and otherwise. Pointing at the mud on someone else's flippers doesn't improve your own swimming. I wasn't clear or you misinterpreted what I said - I was only talking about men and women politicians involved in sex scandals - I think male politicians get caught more. I don't approve or condone of prostitution in any way. And I neer said men are scum and women aren't...did I say that? I don't think so.

And he's still one of America's FAVORITE presidents of all time. He's a celebrity! Everyone forgave him, even his wife (but surely only for political reasons of her own!). I would agree women do it too, but not as often as men. Or men just get caught more!!!

Well.....deception isn't the same issue as repression, puritanism and an authoritarian society. Sexual perversion wouldn't occur as rampantly if our society were more open about sex and tolerant of sexual desire. The deception thing is a whole other issue...deception and lies are just plain sleazy, especially in a marriage. Expected in politics, I think.

You're being facetious, right? Sex scandals, unless they are about men with men, don't seem to hurt men too badly. Look at Bill Clinton! I'm never surprised when I hear of a male politician involved in a sex and/or prostitution scandal.

Don't burn the steaks! The bloodier the better.

So true.

Have you done this? It sounds good from the links I looked at but I would want to be sure about the camping. It would be a bummer to be camped next to someone's llama pen or some other armpit. On the other hand, if there were nice natural sites with views and peaceful settings, I might bring it up. How are the bugs? How many amenites along the way? The links I saw were not very detailed. A great local (Seattle) eco/sport tour operator is Southern Explorations. They arrange tours all throughout Latin America. www.southernexplorations.com My friend works for them and did the Machu Picchu trip and said it was the trip of a lifetime (he also did the Costa Rica tour and had no complaints, I mean, it's Costa Rica!). Lots of other tours and great pics on their website and cool people who run the company.

yeah, yeah - FO

BEAUTIFUL pics - glad you got out there.

Ummmm...are you saying all outdoorsy girls are hags? That is SOOOO not true. I'm about as girly as they get, hot pink toes and lipstick, but still enjoy toughing it out in the mountains and don't worry about looking "cute" on a backcountry trip.

Absolutely! oh my gosh, i LOVE chickens! Too bad you're a climber!

Absolutely!

Rob, I'm sure you have a great marriage - a guy who understands the need for good communication! Love hearing it!

oh my gosh that is so funny! Women aren't that bad, are we?